Golf: Joey Watts, 17, wins Ledges Invitational

Watts got his breakthrough golf victory Sunday with a final-round, 2-under-par 70 to finish with a 145 at the Ledges Invitational.

Ken Lee and Shayne Overall, who shared the lead with a 70 Saturday, finished second (70-76-146) and ninth (70-79-149), respectively. Jeff Beto also tied for second (72-74-146).

“I haven’t played good all year,” Watts said. “This is the tournament right before school, so it makes me better. It gives me confidence to go into school and shoot lights out.”

Watts, 17, shot a 75 Saturday so he focused on trying to hit the ball better.

“Yesterday, I couldn’t the hit the ball at all,” he said. “Today, I was hitting the ball great. I was hitting my driver amazingly. It’s probably the best I have ever hit it. I put myself in play so much that I didn’t have to worry about getting into trouble.”

Watts parred 12 of 18 holes Sunday with four birdies and two bogeys. He birdied three of his last five holes on the front nine to finish with a 34.

Watts’ performance was what he and his father, Joe Kortenkamp, had hoped for all season. This was the first summer that Kortenkamp had signed his son up for local adult tournaments.

“He wasn’t finishing well in some of his tournaments,” Kortenkamp said. “It was all about having fun and getting his confidence and his level up there a little higher. That’s basically all we were trying to do and it’s coming along pretty well. This is going to help him going into school.”

Overall said Watts impressed him after his play at the recent Winnebago County Amateur event.

“He can strike the ball,” said Overall, who grew up playing at Ledges Golf Course. “I like to think I can hit it pretty far, but he can hit it about 20 yards past me. He deserves it. The sky’s the limit for him.”